Lewis William.
You are one today! How has it been a year already?
Your birth was so easy, laid back, fun. We were all so excited to meet you...that is, once Pippa got over her disappointment that you were a boy. From the moment we brought you home, your big brother and sister smothered you with affection, hugs, and kisses.
Read MoreI am a three-time C-section mama and proud of it. Of course, it wasn't the type of birth I pictured when I got pregnant for the first time, but after going through the procedure 3 times, I've realized it's not so bad at all. In fact, I've even grown fond of my C-section memories, because it's how my babies made their way into the world safely. Now that I'm a Veteran C-section Mom, I've picked up a few tips and tricks for making recovery a little smoother.
Read MoreBy the time you have your third baby, you really don't need any new gear. We had already bought or received hand-me-downs for every swing, bouncer, and gadget a baby could want. We had a girl, then a boy, so regardless of gender our third baby would be clothed. The one thing I felt like I didn't have was a baby carrier that I absolutely loved and was comfortable enough to use for long periods of time. I had heard good things about the Lillebaby carriers and was curious about whether they would be a good fit for me.
Read MoreAh, parenthood. There's nothing more magical than watching your offspring grow into a kind, brave, and happy child. There's nothing less magical than getting on the floor and playing toys with them. As much as I love my children and acknowledge the importance of imaginative play for their development, I find it incredibly mind-numbing as an adult.
Read MoreBeing a mom is hard. I know this because I've hidden in my closet and cried hot tears of exhaustion and frustration. I know this because my body has sustained injuries, aches, and pains as a result of becoming a mother. I also know this because our culture reminds me at every turn how hard motherhood is, but how worth it!
It's all true. It's hard and also worth it.
But sometimes I fall into this trap of feeling at once self-satisfied AND indignant about everything I have suffered in the name of motherhood.
Read MoreIn the past, my options to whiten my teeth were to use white strips from the drugstore or get my teeth professionally whitened at the dentist. I always found the white strips to be a bit slimy, and I could never get them to stay on my teeth long enough to do what they were supposed to do. Getting my teeth professionally whitened would be extremely expensive and would mean bringing a 4-year-old, a 2-year-old, and a 9-month-old along. That does not sound fun or relaxing.
Read MoreMy word for 2018 is FUN! I want to find the playful side of whatever I'm doing, from my health and wellness business, to writing, to working out, to my marriage and hanging out with my kids. So often we get stuck focusing on what is mundane or what is lacking from our life that we forget to notice the little moments we could be enjoying.
Read MoreMy third baby in 4 years just turned 9 months. It feels like I've been pregnant or nursing for eternity! This stage of life can be depleting, both physically and mentally. All of your extra energy goes toward growing and raising these little human beings who can't fend for themselves.
Our baby is finally sleeping through the night, so it's time to start restoring balance to our home life. I'm back to setting an alarm to wake up before the kids, my husband and I are both working out first thing in the morning, and we're starting to prioritize our marriage again.
Read MoreMy Nana - my mom's mom- was from London. She used to tell us how when she came to the United States as a young bride, she was horrified at how people would dress in public, to run errands, and especially when traveling. She firmly believed that one should look put together when out and about because it would be respectful to others.
Read MorePacking granola bars, apple slices, bags of cereal, animal crackers, an entire rotisserie chicken, and 3 water bottles in your purse every time you leave the house just in case someone gets hungry. Even if it's just a trip to the library.
Drawing out a game plan for how you'll get everyone safely in and out of their car seats in a parking lot.
Feeling victorious when your FitBit registers getting the kids in and out of their car seats as a workout.
Read MoreYesterday as I was leaving my OB-Gyn appointment with all three of my young kids in tow, my doctor made the kindest comment to me. Before I share it with you, though, I need to set the scene:
The baby was screaming in his stroller with snot running down his nose. The two-year-old was trying to put his toy laptop in the basket of the stroller, effectively tripping me and getting his foot run over in the process. The four-year-old was asking questions about my "yearly exam" while standing directly in the path of my stroller in that narrow hallway. I tried to answer her as vaguely as possible over the din of my unhappy baby while smiling apologetically at the nurses.
Read MoreThe weather in Florida lately has been pleasantly chilly, and we've been reveling in the chance to wear pants and long sleeves. Ever since we moved here two years ago, it hasn't really gotten cold until at least February, and even then the chill only lasted for a few days.
Temperatures in the 60s and 70s are prime mom uniform weather, and these days my "momiform" starts with a base of black leggings or black skinnies. Almost any top looks good paired with them, and they can be dressed up or down.
Read MoreMost parents groan at the thought of more toys entering the house at Christmas time. We spend our entire year decluttering and donating/throwing out/hiding trash bags full of excess toys and clothes, only to fill those empty spaces at Christmas.
Read MoreI've never been good at doing holidays. I'm a classic under-buyer, so I hate spending money on decor. I'm a very type B personality, and love winging it when it comes to plans. So what ends up happening is that a holiday rolls around, and I haven't decorated, haven't done any seasonal activities with my kids, and haven't prepared how we're going to celebrate.
Read MoreI was the perfect parent before I had kids. My kids would NEVER get snacks at church, and they would sit quietly with just a crayon or pencil for the whole service.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Needless to say, that is not my reality.
Read MoreThe "mummy tummy." The "pooch." The C-section "shelf stomach."
Honestly, all of these phrases make me shudder, and if you're a momma who can't figure out how to get rid of that post baby belly, you understand! It's super frustrating to lose all the baby weight and still look 4 or 5 months pregnant. It's disheartening to exercise your hardest only to make your stomach look even more bloated than before. It's emotional to get dressed every day avoiding half of your closet because it highlights your stomach pooch.
Read MoreI first discovered I had diastasis recti about 8 months after I had my second child. I had just finished nursing him, and was already back to my pre pregnancy weight, but noticed I still looked a few months pregnant. I figured I would be able to work off the belly fat through more strenuous workout, clean eating, and nutritional cleansing.
Read MoreIn the weeks after having a baby, it's so tempting to dress in pajamas, leggings, and comfortable V-neck tees and never leave the house. Every once in awhile, though, you need to feel human again, and it feels so good to shower, get dressed in something cute, and do your hair and makeup.
Read MoreI'm under two weeks away from heading into my third scheduled C-section, and with all the Braxton Hicks contractions I've been having, I know it's important to get my bags packed early, just in case we need to head in earlier than planned! As I make my list for the hospital, it occurred to me that I am much more prepared this time around, since I know what to expect, and figured it might be helpful for mamas-to-be who are trying to pack for their first birth experience or their first C-section.
Read MoreAh third trimester. That magical time in your pregnancy when time seems to fly by and simultaneously drag on for eternity. In one sense you're trying to enjoy the last days of peace and quiet before your life turns to chaos by adding a baby to the mix. In a stronger sense, you're so ready to meet your little one and be done with pregnancy and the discomforts that go along with the third trimester. If your pregnancy is like mine, at this point you're swollen, your joints are aching, you can only eat a few bites of food at a time, the heartburn is raging, and you're exhausted but having trouble sleeping at the same time. Here is what is keeping me relatively comfortable during the third trimester.
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